BVS SURVEY!

BVS needs YOUR help! For 65 years BVS volunteers have been serving in communities all over the world. We would like to receive your feedback and perspective on BVS through a quick online survey to keep the program relevant and dynamic. Your feedback will help us determine areas of focus and growth for the organization and set the direction and vision for the next 65 years of BVS! www.brethren.org/bvs/survey *The survey will be available through February 15, 2014 In Peace, The BVS Team Brethren Volunteer Service Church of the Brethren 1451 Dundee Ave. Elgin, IL 60120 1-800-323-8039 Give to Brethren Volunteer Service
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Whitestone and Operation Christmas Child 2013

The Whitestone church is once again joining with churches and service organizations across the globe in making Christmas boxes for Operation Christmas Child. The folks at Whitestone gathered around the tables in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday morning, November 17, and packed their boxes "full of gifts, prayers, and love." The result was 36 Christmas boxes--and countless smiles around the world.

Brethren Disaster Response to Tornado Outbreak

Newsline The Church of the Brethren e-mail news service

Nov. 20, 2013 Brethren Disaster Ministries responds to Illinois tornado outbreak  By Jane Yount Following an intense outbreak of thunderstorms and tornadoes that heavily impacted parts of Illinois and Indiana on Sunday, Nov. 17, Brethren Disaster Ministries is preparing to be involved as needed in those states. Preliminary reports indicate some 91 tornadoes resulted in six fatalities and approximately 150 to 200 injuries. In Illinois, more than 1,000 residences sustained moderate to severe damage, with the heaviest damage in the towns of Washington and Minden. Indiana fared better with 26 counties reporting damage to about 56 dwellings and 2 schools. Brethren Disaster Ministries is supporting Church World Service (CWS) efforts to provide disaster recovery training for communities hit by the tornadoes and material aid shipments such as Emergency Clean-up Buckets, Hygiene Kits, Baby Care Kits, School Kits, and CWS blankets. CWS responded to its first request for material goods by shipping 200 Clean-up Buckets to the American Red Cross Chicago Region for distribution in the Coal City area of Illinois. Illinois and Wisconsin District disaster coordinator reports Rick Koch, the Illinois and Wisconsin District disaster coordinator, is representing Brethren Disaster Ministries on daily conference calls of Illinois VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster). He reports that VOAD member organizations are assessing where to send early responders. “While Washington, Ill., was first in the news, many communities other than Washington have been hard hit,” Koch reports. “Coal City, Ill., also had deaths, and a trailer park was destroyed.” Koch shared with the Illinois VOAD that Brethren Disaster Ministries stands ready to do long-term recovery work as the affected communities become ready. In an e-mail message to Illinois and Wisconsin District churches he wrote, “First and foremost, please pray for the families who have lost loved ones, for those injured and for those who have been displaced.... Some of our Brethren families have been affected directly as well.” In an e-mail update today, Koch writes that “lists are being posted by the Red Cross on items needed. They vary, so find the one closest to your area,” he says, noting that churches in the district may begin to collect items. Three different collection sites are being opened in Illinois, at Coal City, in the community of Gillespie near Champaign, and in Washington. He recommends that interested congregations talk to their area Red Cross for more information about the need for volunteers. “Also please do not forget to give financially to Brethren Disaster Ministries,” Koch urges. Giving to the Illinois tornado response may be done online at www.brethren.org/edf or by check to Emergency Disaster Fund, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120. Brethren Disaster Ministries is in touch with churches Zach Wolgemuth, associate director of Brethren Disaster Ministries, has spoken with Dana McNeil, pastor of Peoria (Ill.) Church of the Brethren, one of the closest churches to the worst affected areas in Illinois. McNeil said the church is planning to get involved in clean-up work and other recovery efforts. Cliff Kindy, South/Central Indiana District disaster coordinator, has reached out to several congregations in Indiana including Kokomo, Lafayette, and Logansport. They reported fallen trees and loose shingles but were spared major damage. “I’m not sensing any urgency in this state,” Kindy said. “I think the warning systems were effective.” He too plans to be in touch with his state VOAD. -- Jane Yount is coordinator for Brethren Disaster Ministries. Find out more about the work of Brethren Disaster Ministries atwww.brethren.org/bdm . The program also recently announced a challenge to raise $500,000 for disaster response following Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, director of News Services for the Church of the Brethren, serves as editor of Newsline. The next regularly scheduled issue of Newsline is planned for Nov. 22.

Newsline is produced by the news services of the Church of the Brethren. Contact the editor at cobnews@brethren.org. Newsline appears every other week, with special issues as needed. Stories may be reprinted if Newsline is cited as the source. Forward Newsline to a friend    Subscribe to Newsline

Typhoon Haiyan Response

Brethren Disaster Ministries challenges church to raise $500,000 for Typhoon Haiyan response

Church of the Brethren Newsline
November 11, 2013

Photo courtesy of ACT/Christian Aid

Damage caused by Typhoon Haiyan in Northern Iloilo, Philippines.

By Roy Winter and Jane Yount of the Brethren Disaster Ministries staff

Please pause for a moment and pray for all impacted by the widespread devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines and Vietnam. With extensive loss of life and destruction, our prayers are desperately needed for all who are left homeless, all who lost loved ones, and all whose lives have been terribly disrupted.

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Brethren Disaster Ministries is intent on organizing a response that will focus Brethren resources on the areas of greatest need by working with partners already active in the Philippines and Vietnam. An initial grant of $35,000 already is being sent to support emergency operations and life saving support. Our goal is to raise at least $500,000 to expand this initial work into the long-term rebuilding of homes and lives. 

This massive storm caused a path of destruction hundreds of miles wide with sustained winds reported at 195 miles per hour and gusts much higher. These winds are equivalent to a giant F4 tornado. While search and rescue efforts are still underway, the loss of life is reported to be in the thousands and may grow into the tens of thousands. The hardest hit city of Taclaban is reported to be totally flattened, while many other cities are heavily impacted and some reported still underwater. Less information is known about the destruction in Vietnam.

Please support the Brethren response to Typhoon Haiyan. Your support and prayers are needed.  Donations may be given online atwww.brethren.org/typhoonaid or sent by mail to Emergency Disaster Fund, Church of the Brethren, 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120.

-- Roy Winter is associate executive director of Global Mission and Service and Brethren Disaster Ministries. Jane Yount serves as coordinator for Brethren Disaster Ministries.

Go to www.brethren.org/Newsline to subscribe to the Church of the Brethren Newsline free e-mail news service and receive church news every week.

WEWomen: Joyful Service

WEWomen meets on a regular basis, weather permitting. The name is a contraction of "the Whitestone and Ellisforde women," and it's a cooperative mission group between the two churches.

The women sew and quilt when they're together. The comforters and baby quilts they make are donated to aid agencies.

At lunchtime the women lay out a delicious meal, for husbands and anyone else who wishes to come and partake. This custom goes way back when these same women were young mothers, and their husbands worked in the orchards and fields. The women would be at the church, but they would still provide the noon meal for their families by sharing the work.

After cleanup, it's time for the meeting. The women plan and organize the yearly Christmas Bazaar, and many of them also work hard through the year to make the wide variety of items that are sold at auction. Decisions are made about the allocation of mission funds, and opportunities for new missions are shared and discussed.

Not everyone was present for this photo, but the attitude of joyful service evident here is typical of all who participate in WEWomen.

How many quilts and comforters have gone out over the years to those who have needed them? How many people's lives have been touched by the funds sent out in response to need? Only God knows. In fact I'm certain that God knows, and has taken notice of the faithful work of these women, and has blessed it.

Dunkers

Earlier this Spring there was a fundraiser in town for the new Tonasket Water Ranch that will provide hot weather relief this summer for the kids of the community while a new pool is being constructed. Many folks from our churches got involved.

One of the popular features of the day was a dunk tank. Many upstanding members of the community graciously consented to take the seat of honor atop that infernal contraption. They included Ernie Bolz, and Rob Thompson, and yours truly.

Here is Rob feeling unaccountably confident about the whole enterprise.

Here he may be feeling a bit uneasy as he sees the glint in the eyes of the children.

And here is the fatal moment when gravity has him, and he first realizes how cold the water in that dunk tank really is, and where he may be having second thoughts way too late to do anything about it. The face of the little girl says it all.

I took my turn, too, and once you're dry and warm--a day or two later--you feel proud that you could bring a little happiness into the lives of the children, both in the future as they play in that new water park, and right now as they squeal with fiendish delight as you go down for the third time.

Deacon Update, May 2013

DEACON UPDATE

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Serve One Another

May 2013

A few years ago David was called to be a deacon, in part based on his extraordinary ability to sense when someone was hurting, even if nothing had been verbalized. When this and his other gifts were lifted up and resulted in a call to deacon ministry David was thrilled, and he accepted with grace and humility.

Emma has been a part of the congregation since junior high. She has always appreciated hearing the varied voices of worship leaders as they stand and serve each week, leading prayer, reading scripture, and encouraging sharing as a faith community. But Emma never really saw herself serving in that way, so when the pastor asked if she would be worship leader a week from Sunday it was quite a surprise. With a little encouragement she suddenly realized that yes, this was in fact something she wanted to do and, with a few recent changes in the church, she could do.

These stories might not seem all that unusual, unless you know that David is an adult with autism spectrum disorder, and that Emily has been in a wheelchair since 5th grade. These are terrific examples of how people in our congregations who are differently-abled might be asked to serve, rather than our focus always being on how we might serve them. While service to others, regardless of their abilities, is critical in our roles as caregivers, sometimes the very best way we can serve is to help others find ways to share their own gifts.

How are those with differing abilities encouraged to serve in your congregation? Perhaps physical barriers have been removed, opening a way for people who can’t climb the steps to the chancel to provide leadership during worship. Perhaps you have created opportunities for the gifts of others to be used in ways you—and they—never imagined. What are your stories?

Consider sharing those stories by nominating a congregation or district (including your own!) for the Open Roof Award, presented each year at Annual Conference. This award recognizes congregations or districts that are working "to ensure that all may worship, serve, be served, learn and grow in the presence of God as valued members of the Christian community." Nomination deadline: June 1.

"Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received." -- 1Peter 4:10

Director of Denominational Deacon Ministry
dkline@brethren.org
847-429-4306

Thoughts on Stewardship: eBrethren

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April 24, 2013   Found your voice? Click here. CONTENTS Finding a voice Morning prayer Gathering the nations Jonathan Stauffer giving an Earth Day sermon at Westminster Church of the Brethren in Westminster, Md.Photo by Lisa Blevins A Global Food Crisis Fund Foods Resource Bank growing project near Stauffer's home town of Polo, Ill. Photo by Howard Royer A conversation about childhood poverty atChristian Citizenship Seminar 2013.  Photo by Rachel Witkovsky Finding a voiceBy Jonathan Stauffer  I came to Brethren Volunteer Service looking for something meaningful to do. Caretaking God’s Earth and finding practical ways to live justly were my passions, so it was fitting to feel a nudge from God toward the Church of the Brethren’s Office of Public Witness (formerly Peace Witness Ministries). I began work on issues related to environmental stewardship and poverty. I was first asked to help coordinate the Annual Conference Query: Guidance for Responding to the Changing of Earth’s Climate . Over time, I learned to view this issue and others from a Christian perspective by working alongside faith leaders who strive to promote justice and the common good. In early 2012, Congress began debating the Farm Bill. Having grown up on a family farm I understood the basic purpose of the bill, and was able to advocate on issues concerning nutrition, land conservation, and rural economic development. Digging deeper into the legislation, its impact on food policies, farm systems, and anti-hunger programs in our communities became clear. Messenger magazine seemed like the perfect outlet for all this newfound information, so I submitted "Why Our Roots in the Land Still Matter," for the July/August edition. My hope was that the article would promote a broader discussion within the church about the hunger crisis, personal food choices, our dwindling rural communities, and reconnecting to God’s Creation. Congress failed to pass a comprehensive Farm Bill last year, but the Church of the Brethren’s new "Going to the Garden" initiative is very encouraging. Brethren congregations may apply for grants funded by theGlobal Food Crisis Fund to build community gardens--a perfect way to transform our talk into action. As I conclude a year and six months of service, I now have a deeper understanding of how our stewardship connects to the well-being of our neighbors and all Creation. I have learned more about my faith in Christ from looking at Scripture in new contexts, and I’ve done my best to apply those faith values through thoughtful action. I have also come to understand that it’s one thing to believe in a value or ideal, but entirely another to live it--just as Jesus calls us to do. To apply for a "Going to the Garden" grant for your congregation, visit www.brethren.org/goingtothegarden . To support the Global Food Crisis Fund, the Office of Public Witness, or Brethren Volunteer Service, visitwww.brethren.org/give . Forward to a friend Back to top www.brethren.org/youthsunday Morning prayerBy Michael Himlie God of many wonders, You are so strong yet so gentle. You have a place for us all. You know our every move and watch over us. Call to us as we strive to grow closer to you. We all yearn for your power and glory To reign over us. Show us that power so we can be more like you. Help us to grow in your glorious image. We pray this in your name. Amen. This is one of several worship resources for National Youth Sunday 2013, available atwww.brethren.org/youthsunday. At Pentecost we remember the gift of the Holy Spirit, burning in our hearts. Photo by Mandy Garcia A gathering of modern day saints at Strengthening Your Small Congregation Seminar 2013.Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford www.brethren.org/pentecost Gathering the nationsBy Josh Brockway "For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him" (Acts 2:39). An encounter with God is never easy to explain. Words are just not enough to describe the heart of such an experience. But Luke, master storyteller that he is, has left us clues about the disciples' encounter with God at Pentecost—especially questions that surfaced afterward: "What just happened?" “How can I understand what they are saying? We don't speak the same language!" It’s only when Peter finally stands up to speak that it all begins to make sense. Peter’s sermon, presented to an ignited crowd murmuring around him, begins not with Jesus, but with the prophet Joel. "In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh" (Acts 2:17). So rather than a remnant of late-night celebrating, Peter proclaims the spontaneous, multi-lingual babbling of Pentecost as the fulfillment of early prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures. According to Peter's sermon, this transformation of the Spirit is not limited to only the disciples, but is available to all who are baptized in the name of Christ. That day in Jerusalem began the fulfillment of God's promise to gather all the nations. The spiritual transformation of Jesus’ followers at Pentecost, launched by the gifting of the Holy Spirit, was the beginning of a new people in the name of Christ. Pentecost is often described as the birthday of the church. Part of that emergence is the impulse to gather people--all people who have been baptized--as fellow disciples of Christ. This act of gathering is essential to the life of the church, and a vital community of faith is one that gathers people together and equips them for the ministry of God in the world. Living into the gift of Pentecost--into the work of gathering--the church grows in its witness to the Christ proclaimed in Peter's sermon, for the gift of the Spirit is open to all whom God calls. This piece is excerpted from the Pentecost Offering sermon starter. Read it in full, as well as several other worship resources, at www.brethren.org/pentecost . Forward to a friend Back to top www.brethren.org/basinandtowel "To pray means to recognize our relationship with God. Prayer is the attitude and act of humbly acknowledging that there is someone far greater than we are to whom we submit our will. Prayer is a vital means by which God reveals and guides us through a life of spiritual attentiveness and discerning prayer." --Stan Dueck in "Prayer: The Heart of Transformation," published in the most recent edition of Basin and Towel .   Do you have a story about how you or your congregation practice stewardship? E-mail it to mgarcia@brethren.org ! eBrethren: stories of Brethren stewards, is produced every other week by the Church of the Brethren's donor communications team. Send feedback to mgarcia@brethren.org or call 847-742-5100 ext. 361. Thanks for reading!  Watch for our next issue on May 8, 2013!
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